“I will be buried in Zimbabwe” – Thomas Mapfumo speaks on burial wishes, life in the diaspora

A week after he held a farewell concert in Birmingham, in the United Kingdom, Chimurenga music legend Thomas Mapfumo has affirmed his desire to be buried in Zimbabwe when he passes away.

Mapfumo (80), left Zimbabwe at the turn of the century and relocated to the United States, where he is still based.

Since then, the outspoken musician has had a volatile relationship with Zimbabwe’s ruling party and government, speaking out against some of its excesses, including violence and corruption.

In an interview with Zimpapers, the musician said that although he was still resident in the United States, he would be buried at home whenever he passed away.

“It is something we have never discussed, but if I die, I will be buried in Zimbabwe. I may have American citizenship, but that does not change the fact that I am Zimbabwean.

“I truly love my roots, and, as I mentioned earlier, we can never escape ourselves, even if we live abroad,” he said.

Mukanya, as the musician is popularly known, said that he was working on hosting gigs in Zimbabwe.

“There are people planning something in Zimbabwe and I am just waiting to hear from them. I also have other shows lined up in South Africa very soon and I will certainly come once everything has been sorted out by the management team of the group,” he said.

While Mukanya was not clear on whether he would ever relocate back to Zimbabwe, he said life as an immigrant was not rosy.

“Life here can be hell on earth because you do not have close friends or people to support you when you are broke. It is survival of the fittest and one must be responsible, knowing you are not in your own country.

“You may not appreciate the freedom you have back home until you relocate overseas, where your rights are limited as a foreigner.”

Mapfumo also opened up about the factors that drove Zimbabweans to the diaspora.

“For your information, most of the people who have settled overseas did not come here by choice. There are several factors that prompted them to be here, and they dearly miss home.

“I also miss home because I will always be Zimbabwean, no matter how many years I have settled in the US, which has become my second home — not by choice, but due to situations beyond my control,” he said.